NQT handing in notice on September return

[Idratherbeeatingcake]

First time poster, so here goes.

I'm starting school tomorrow having just done my PGCE and one months transition before six week hols. The thing is, I got my job fairly early in the course and by the end of the course, I knew teaching wasn't really for me but I was already tied into a contract.
I'm just wondering if I should tell the hod of my intention to quit during tomorrow's inset or should I just hand my notice in before Oct? I don't want school trying to talk me out of it (they are super supportive) but don't want it to be out of the blue.

I enjoy working with kids but despise how the work never ends and feels all consuming. I'm nearly 40 with teenage kids and moved from a minimum wage job hoping to do something that would allow our family to finally stop struggling financially. However, this job just stresses me constantly and aggravates my anxiety. I've been looking at other jobs and am optimistic that I've gained some great experience but want to be able to move on asap. I'm aware that contractually I should work til Xmas but I'm absolutely dreading these next few months.

Sorry for the mini essay, I just wanted to give as much info as possible.

Well done for surviving today! Yes definitely take it one day at a time. We're here for you!

You are very honest and are probably in a better position than someone who is not mentally prepared for the hard work.Agree with Beetle milk to take it one day at a time and then review.Could you build rewards into your Life,eg spa/pampering atthe end of the month,ready meals to get you through?
You say your pupils are nice and your colleagues supportive-you must be doing something right!

I did my nqt year part time over two years, with a year off for maternity leave in between! I was 38 when I started it.

It has been heard due to behaviour mainly, which isn't my strong point, but I am hanging in there and some bits are now easier, plus we have a new head who is sorting a few issues out around school.

If you did your NQT year it would make you a much more attractive prospect for other stuff involving working with kids - had you thought about year mentors, pastoral staff etc? They are generally not qualified teachers, but I'd imagine someone who is qualified would be sought after. Exams officer?

How are you getting on so far?

I'm ok. I'm fed up and exhausted over the weekends, depressed and upset early week and just about feeling I can get through the week by Thursdayish. I'm trying hard but the to do list just keeps growing, I'm already struggling with all my marking, the amount of meetings/training/cpd is insane and I genuinely cannot contemplate how I'm going to cope when reports are due on top of this! As well as this, our school will be having inspectors in termly (or half termly-can't remember) as it's struggling and is under pressure to improve dramatically.
As a family, we said we would book a holiday for next summer as a reward for all of us-it's not just me the last year's been hard on, but now it just feels like an added pressure in a way :-/
I don't want to let anybody (at home or school) down because everyone has been so amazing, but this is too much for me. I'm trying to stick with one day at a time to get me to October and see how I feel then. I think I will be looking for other work within schools as I love working with kids, just not in the intensely pressurised role of teacher, not sure what chance I'll stand but hey-ho.
Artisan-do you think it was harder doing your nqt year part-time? I assume you'll have been sharing classes?
Madam-those hours would be heavenly! Planning alone takes me hours a day and it took me an hour to mark one and a half books yesterday! (English) despite intentions of trying to speed up.

Sounds like you are having a rough time and the school isn't being very supportive. I'm also an NQT and don't spend as much time as you on stuff. I use departmental resources and spend only about 12hrs a week planning. Marking is going to go up this week as I will be getting homework in but I expect it to be about 10hrs a week. Meetings are only about 3hrs a week. Plus 24 lessons teaching. It sounds like you may do better in another school, it really does make all the difference.
If you're unhappy though, start looking for something else. I wish you all the best.

I'm secondary so didn't share any classes as our subject gets everyone, once a week.

Yes I think it was harder in some ways as I didn't get the sheer volume of hours of practice in, in one go. I also missed out on key info, those important corridor conversations about little Johnny's mum being ill and the chance to keep on top of detentions missed by grabbing pupils the next day, as you tend to do.

The planning load is the same as FT as you need to plan for each year group, even if you only teach one class.

But, you get days off in between to unwind and de-stress! And fewer reports to write, fewer books to mark. It all helps.

This year I am 0.4 and have a year 11 class which I team teach with my HOD, a year 10 class I see twice, 4 year 8s, one of whom I team teach, and 2 year 7s. The team teaching is due to falling roll, in turn due to us being in SM. I also run clubs on both days I am in and have been excused from a weekly meeting after school as it's the only time I have available to run the club.

It gets easier with planning as you recycle and upgrade stuff from last year, (even if you do chuck out half of it, thinking "what was I thinking doing that! ) Nowadays I can do all planning on a Sunday early morning and late evenings so it's not eating into family time. I mark books during the week, on a. 2week cycle and refuse to work in the day when I am supposed to be a SAHM.

Re marking: regular small amounts are much easier, I sometimes have a set of books out on the kitchen worktop when cooking the tea, although I have had a couple of unfortunate splashes.

Self marking, peer marking, peer assessment and clear assessment criteria planned in advance are helpful. The kids prefer self and peer marking as they get instant feedback. Plus, our old head used to say "if you can't mark it, don't set it". Have answers on your PowerPoint ready to go, so things can be marked really quickly.

I keep a green pen blue-tacked to the whiteboard ready to go and as soon as I leave my upfront teaching position to walk round, I get in there with my green marking pen when I am monitoring class work and mark as much as possible there and then. I do my ticks backward when marking at home to distinguish from work marked in class, to 'prove' I am monitoring work in class, IYSWIM.

It sounds like you are in a highly pressured school with termly inspections, so there is a possibility it is the school situation which is making you feel like this.

How did you feel on your placements in different schools?

With respect to marking I have found (and I have struggled with it big time) that I work out a timetable for collecting in books from students and planning when I am going to mark. It might take a while to sort but work it out so you have yr 7 classes work/homework coming in on a Monday as you don't see them till Wednesday giving you a couple of nights to mark etc. Plan it using your non contact times as well - aim to stick to it and it will begin to get easier as you will end up with a more manageable job.

Also ask the department on tips others use to speed up the marking process - I can't help here as I am Maths so not much help with English marking - I appreciate its a lot more involved!

Although there are various ways to mark in class during the lesson to help your marking speedier outside of the lesson.

I know this doesn't address you wanting to leave but there are ways in which you can make life easier - simple things I have discovered are some ink pad stamps which have standard phrases - I used to spend a lot of time writing 'Show your workings out' in Maths books maybe not a long phrase but times it by 30 students a class and it adds on a lot of time - so I bought a stamp and its now a second to put it in the book!